Novak Djokovic just got one of his tennis records broken by his good friend Aryna Sabalenka at the 2026 Australian Open. And he’s not too happy about it.
Well, maybe he’s not actually upset. But he’s definitely having some fun with it on social media.
Djokovic’s Record Collection
Let’s be honest – Djokovic has basically collected tennis records like some people collect baseball cards. The guy has 24 Grand Slam titles, which is more than any other male player in history. He’s spent the most weeks ranked as the world’s best player. He’s also got records for most weeks in the top 2, top 3, and top 4 rankings.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novak Djokovic | 38 | 8,360 | 18 - 6 |
He finished eight different years as the number one player in the world. That’s a record too.
Oh, and he’s won 40 Masters titles. Also a record.
The list of records Djokovic holds is pretty much endless. But as of Sunday, January 25th, 2026, he’s got one less record to his name.
Aryna Sabalenka just took it from him.
When Friends Become Rivals
Here’s the thing that makes this even more interesting – Djokovic and Sabalenka have become good friends recently. They even went on a double date together in Greece with Djokovic’s wife.
Now his friend is breaking his records. Talk about awkward dinner conversation.
The Tie-Break Streak That Started It All
Back when Djokovic was just starting out at Grand Slams, he was absolutely incredible in tie-breaks. We’re talking about a 19-match tie-break winning streak that lasted from 2005 to 2007.
It started at Wimbledon in 2005. Djokovic was just a qualifier back then – hard to imagine now, right? He beat Juan Monaco in straight sets, winning his first-ever Grand Slam tie-break 7-5 in the second set.
Then he just kept winning them.
For nearly two years, Djokovic didn’t lose a single tie-break at a major tournament. He beat guys like Gael Monfils (multiple times), Fernando Verdasco, Tommy Haas, and Mardy Fish in those crucial moments.
The streak finally ended at Wimbledon 2007 against Nicolas Kiefer. Djokovic actually won the match, but he lost one tie-break in the second set. That brought his streak to an end at 19 consecutive tie-breaks won.
That was a record that stood for nearly 20 years.
Sabalenka’s Amazing Run
Sabalenka has now won 20 tie-breaks in a row at Grand Slams. Twenty!
Her streak started in the most dramatic way possible. Back at the 2023 French Open, she was playing Karolina Muchova and lost the first-set tie-break. But she bounced back to win the second-set tie-break – and that’s where her incredible run began.
Since that match, she’s beaten some of the biggest names in women’s tennis in tie-breaks. Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Madison Keys, Emma Navarro – you name it, she’s probably beaten them in a tie-break.
Her 20th consecutive win came against Victoria Mboko at this year’s Australian Open. She won that tie-break 7-1, making it look pretty easy.
The Secret to Tie-Break Success
After her latest win, reporters asked Sabalenka about her amazing tie-break record. Her answer was pretty clever – she thinks all the talk about her tie-break dominance actually helps her.
“It’s putting pressure on my opponents, so that is what I like playing tie-breaks nowadays. I just go into the tie-breaks and try to not think about this is a tie-break, and I try and play point by point, and I guess that’s the key to this consistency.”
Smart strategy, right? When everyone’s talking about how good you are in tie-breaks, your opponents are probably thinking about it too. And that extra pressure can make all the difference.
Djokovic’s “Upset” Reaction
When news of Sabalenka breaking his record hit social media, Djokovic spotted it pretty quickly. His response was perfect – playful but with just a hint of that competitive fire that’s made him so successful.
“I’m upset right now >.”
The angry emoji followed by what looks like a cheetah? Classic Djokovic humor. He’s clearly not actually mad at his friend, but you can tell that competitor’s mindset is still there even in retirement.
It’s pretty amazing that these two have become close friends despite being from completely different parts of the tennis world. Djokovic is from Serbia, Sabalenka is from Belarus. He’s 37, she’s 26. He’s winding down his career, she’s at the peak of hers.
But tennis has a way of bringing people together, and their friendship shows just how tight-knit the tennis world really is.
What’s Next for the Record
So where does Sabalenka’s streak go from here? She’s got to be feeling pretty confident every time a match heads to a tie-break. Twenty in a row is just incredible consistency at the highest level of tennis.
Of course, every streak eventually comes to an end. Djokovic probably thought his 19-match run would last forever too. But for now, Sabalenka owns this particular piece of tennis history.
And hey, at least Djokovic still has those other 47 records to fall back on.
